A storm developing over the Atlantic Ocean, around 100 miles off the Atlantic coast of the US Coast, could likely bring heavy rain and strong winds this week from Wednesday, August 17. The weather forecast is according to AccuWeather meteorologists, who implied the weather system is similar to a typical wintertime nor'easter. Potential flash flooding is also possible in low-lying and coastal areas.
The system has been developing closer to the New England coast as of Tuesday, August 16. This is based on the gathering of showers and thunderstorms farther west. It was initially thought that it could develop too far in in the Atlantic to bring enough downpour in Massachusetts. With the latest updates, the lurking storm will affect both the Canadian and US Atlantic coasts.
In particular, winter-like or wet weather hazards that were mentioned earlier are possible to occur in eastern Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Canada's New Brunswick, the forecast indicates. This means the accumulation of floodwaters is imminent should a torrential rain occur. Associated localized disruption to travel and power outages are also on the table.
US weather authorities are calling the potential persistence of rainfall in the Northeast as a much needed break from the heat wave which struck the region and others regions in the country over the past several weeks and months. While the relatively calm spring is set in September, the threats posed by the summer heat is still far from over.
Atlantic Coast Storm
Parts of Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and Portland, Maine will fall within the zone of heavy rain and gusty winds caused by the so-called winter coastal storm. Steady rain is possible to navigate into eastern New England and Atlantic Canada, according to AccuWeather.
The trajectory is based from the said forecast that the storm is expected to move in a northward pattern into Wednesday and then shift northwest into mainland Canada on Thursday, August 18.
Storm-Related Risks
The weather forecasting company adds that winds could be strong enough to break tree limbs and lead to power outages in southeastern Massachusetts on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the strong air pressure could also push ocean waters to the shore, causing coastal flooding in eastern Massachusetts.
National Drought Summary
In another angle, The Washington Post on Tuesday stated the coastal storm is likely to move away from the Northeast coast later this week, citing models have hesitated on the potential amount of rainfall will strike the country's most populous region.
The persistent dry conditions in the Northeast have brought the region in an intense drought, where it is not clear that a relief will be coming anytime soon, as reported by the US media outlet.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released its report called the "National Drought Summary" which includes the Northeast and highlights the extreme drought in eastern Massachusetts, just outside Cape Cod. In addition, most parts of southern and eastern Rhode Island have been affected by the extreme weather.
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